Refrigerator shelf



May 14, 1946.

J. H. PFEIFFER REFRIGERATOR SHELF Filed Oct. 27. 1943 Patented May 14, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John H. $251, by mesne assignments, to Philco Radio and Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to shelving, and more particularly to'removable refrigerator shelves of,

the type inwhich the major portion of the shelf area -is open to promote circulation of air throughout the refrigerator.

Refrigerator shelves of the type with which the present invention is particularly concerned have long presented the problem of providin shelves having adequate strength and rigidity which at the same time arelight in weight and offer the minimum obstruction to the circulation of air within the refrigerator.

With this in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a shelf of the character described which embodies novel features of construction and arrangement resultin in substantially greater strength and rigidity than that achieved with prior constructions. I

More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shelf structure of the type set forth which incorporates a relatively heavy peripheral frame member .and relatively light cross-members or wires; in which'shelf the cross-,

section of the frame member is so related to the horizontal plane of said shelf as to impart an unusually high degree of strength and rigidity thereto, particularly along the unsupported forward shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged-sectional view on line -22, Figure 1;

. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of shelf structure; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 3.-

Referring now more particularly to the drawin a shelf constructed according to the present invention comprises a relatively heavy peripheral frame member, indicated generally by the reference numeral I which may be made, for example, of suitable soft carbon steel. A plurality of relatively spaced parallel cross wires or rods 2, which may be of any desired cross-section, serve to provide the shelf supporting surface and providing the maximum cross-sectional dimenthese rods 2 have their ends fixed to the inside edge of the peripheral frame member I. As indicatedat 3 in the drawing, the frame I is generally rectangular, preferably square, in

crcss-sectionand, in accordance with the present invention, the diagonal through the frame cross-section is disposed approximately at right angles to the'horizontal plane of the shelf,.thus

sion of the frame in the direction of forces applied to the shelf structure.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the cross members 2 may be substantially straight throughout their length and have their ends fixed to the inside edge of the peripheral frame member I asindicated at 4, for-example, by butt welding. A1- ternatively, in accordance with the modification illustrated'in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, the ends of the rods 2 may be bent downwardly with reference to the upper surface of the shelf structure as indicated at 5 in the drawing, and may be fixed to the lower inside angular surface of the'frame member I as shown, for example, by spot welding. When connection between the cross-members 2 and the frame I is I made in accordance with the showing in Figures 3 and 4, it will be observed that it is possible to provide a shelf structure in which the upper surfaces of said cross-members 2 are coplanar with the uppermost edge of the frame member I.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the invention provides a shelf construction having considerably greater strength and rigidity than that which is provided by utilizing equivalent gauge material in which a flat surface of the framing member is arranged parallel to the plane of the shelf as heretofore. This fact is clearly evident from a comparison, of the cross-sectional dimensions ofthe frame in the direction of forces normally applied to the,

shelf as arranged in the present construction and in the 'prior practice, respectively. The in-' vention is of particular importance in presentday domestic refrigerators having a vertically arranged closure member, since in such refrigerators it is not possible to support the shelving along the forward edge.

Furthermore, by arranging the diagonal of the'frame cross-section in accordance with this invention, there results a novel construction considerably enhancing the appearance ofthe shelf as a whole. I

With particular reference to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, it is evident that this form of the invention further provides more useable shelf area, by virtue of the fact that the frame member may be arranged in coplanar relation with the cross-rods, while. still maintaining a shelf of smooth, uninterrupted lines and pleasing appearance.

In its broadest aspect, the invention is not limited to the particular configuration of the crossrods, or to the manner in which they are fixed to the main frame. Moreover, the cross- -sectional shape of the frame member may be varied somewhat, while still coming within the terms of the subjoined claims. For example, it would be possible to bevel-off the inner and outer edges of the frame member, without departing from the concept of aligning a major axis of the crosssection with the direction of applied forces on the shelf, and it will be understoodthat the invention contemplates such changes and modifications as may fall within the scope of the claims.

coplanar with the uppermost edge of said frame member.

2. A refrigerato shelf construction, comprising a peripheral frame member of generally rectangular cross-section and defining the normally horizontal plane of the shelf, said frame member being disposed so that the diagonals through the cross-section thereof lie in the horizontal and vertical planes respectively, and a. plurality of elongated cross members having downwardly bent member.

3. A refrigerator shelf construction, comprising a peripheral frame member of generally rec-- tangular cross section and defining the normally horizontal plane of the shelf, said frame member being disposed so that the diagonals through the cross section thereof lie in the horizontal and elongated cross'members having bent end portions fixed to an inner surface of said frame member.

4. A refrigerator shelf construction, comprising a peripheral frame member of generally rectangular cross section and defining the normally horizontal plane of the shelf, said frame member being disposed so that the diagonals through the cross section thereof lie in the horizontal and vertical planes respectively, and a plurality of elongated cross members having. downwardly bent end portions fixed to the lower inner surface of' said frame member.

' JOHN H. PFEIFFER. 

